Super League review (1st and 2nd February) - excellent weekend for Polonia, despite Eagles double 

Mark Kontopoulos' side did their bit to stay in front by travelling north to get the better of struggling University of Nottingham in straight sets 25-8, 25-19, 25-22. 

Anna Rantala served two aces, successfully returned seven out of eight serves and made eight kills, one block and three digs. 

Setter Abi Ketley was chosen as MVP for the hosts after serving five aces and completing 12 assists from 53 attempts. 

SideOut were then handed the bonus of Malory Eagles failing to pick up maximum points in either of their outings after being taken to five sets in both their matches when venturing even higher up the country. 

First, on Saturday, they had to fight back from 2-1 down in sets at Leeds Gorse to eventually triumph by just two points after going the distance (25-20, 22-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13). 

Alessia Garnero was MVP for Leeds, with Chloe Allen taking the honours for Malory. 

It was a similar outcome on Sunday at Durham Palatinates, though a different route to get there, after leading 2-1 and being pegged back to all square before claiming the decider (13-25. 25-23, 22-25, 25-13, 15-5).  

Middle Grace Lazard completed 11 kills and made a game-high four blocks to be voted as Eagles MVP.  

Renae Regal was nominated for the hosts after making 27 successful service returns from 29 attempts, four of nine assit attempts and 10 digs. 

The upshot is that, for the first time, Polonia have the breathing space of a five-point gap from Malory, having played a game more, and now need just one more win to secure a Final 4 berth. 

Durham’s other weekend game was more successful, although not in the way they would have wanted to claim maximum points. 

With a Cambridge ARU player suffering injury in the first set, and no substitutes available, they had to concede the match. 

Jamie Dailey was picked as MVP for Durham and Julia Pallamin for ARU. 

At the bottom end of the table, Darkstar Derbyshire have given themselves a fighting chance of beating the drop after a weekend success at winless Wessex. 

They came out on top by a 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 scoreline against a home side who continue to give it everything despite being near certainties to play in NVL Division 1 next season. 

MVP for the victors was Lauren Cadwgan, while Vicky Palmer was picked out for Wessex. 

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In the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League, leaders Essex Rebels stayed top of the table after overcoming a resurgent London Giants side In Colchester. 

The home side edged a tight first 25-23 and added the second 25-20 before their visitors fought back to take another close one 29-27. 

Essex regrouped and eased to victory in the last by a score of 25-16 for an overall 3-1 triumph. 

Jacob Kern was MVP for thehome team and Lovepreet Sandhu took the accolade for the London. 

Following the game, the tragic news that four University of Essex students – including three Essex Rebels basketball players – had been killed in a car accident was announced. 

Volleyball England is deeply saddened by these losses and wish to express our deepest condolences, as well as offer our support to all at the University of Essex at this extremely difficult time. 

Second-placed Malory Eagles won their weekend games against North East opposition in straight sets to reclaim top spot by one point but having played one more game. 

First, on Saturday, they made the long trip up to Final 4-chasing Newcastle Knights and recorded a confident 25-21, 25-16, 25-18 victory. 

Setter Joel Martinez was MVP for the winners after assisting on 36 occasions from 61 attempts. 

James Ledbury successful returned served from all 14 attempts and made four kills and one block to be the Knights’ MVP. 

Then, before making the trip home on the Sunday, they were again successful against the Durham Palatinates, this time prevailing 25-14, 25-17, 27-25. 

There were contrasting fortunes for those two beaten sides in those matches, with Newcastle recovering from their setback to beat Richmond Docklands in four sets on Sunday. 

The hosts won a long and important first set 30-28 and, though they lost the next 25-17, were able to close out the match by taking the next two by the same scoreline, 25-18. 

Kelechi Bell completed 14 kills and made three blocks for the victors and was supported by Matthew Milne (10 kills, three blocks) and Ryan Peace (five blocks). 

Joao Alves made 14 kills and two blocks in what was ultimately a losing cause for Richmond. 

For Durham, though, there had already been frustration prior to their game with the Eagles in the shape of a 3-0 home defeat to Essex Blaze. 

There was just two points in each of the first two sets before the visitors pulled away in the third to ensure a happy trip back down the A1 (26-24, 27-25, 25-17). 

Pierre Tang-Taye was named as MVP for the Blaze after serving two aces, successfully returning serve on all 12 attempts, completing a game-high 14 kills and making two blocks and six digs. 

The Palatinates’ MVP Jakub Graczyk served one ace and made nine kills. 

There was more misery for bottom club IBB Polonia as they suffered double defeat over the weekend when a single point would have been good enough to lift them off the foot of the table. 

With three teams going down automatically as the Super League moves to eight teams from 10 for 2025-26, last season’s Final 4 finalists chances of beating the drop are looking increasingly slim. 

On Saturday, the Londoners travelled to the East Midlands to play University of Nottingham and were on the wring end of a 3-1 defeat that moves the Green and Golds onto a 7-4 record and up to third. 

It started brightly for IBB as they took the first 25-20, but any hopes they had of repeating fellow strugglers Stockport's recent win against the same opposition vanished as UoN powered back to take the next three 25-20, 25-16, 25-18. 

Setter Cole Turnbull served three aces, completed 39 assists from 94 attempts and made nine digs to be selected as MVP for the Green and Golds. 

Andre Maggio served two aces, successfully returned serve from all 22 attempts and made 10 kills, three blocks and 12 digs in a fine all-round game for the visitors. 

There was more disappointment on Sunday as the Giants had enough in the tank to register a 25-22, 25-23, 25-15 victory. 

For their part, they have moved back into the top half of the table with a 6-6 record as good form has bookmarked a challenging period in between. 

Andre Maggio was MVP for Polonia, with Seth Chen winning the vote for the Giants.

Images by Noelia Fernandez Perez

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